We use them every day, rarely giving them a second thought. But before the world was bathed in electric light, nights were ruled by flickering flames and deep darkness. Who really invented the lightbulb? And how did this simple invention spark one of the most intense rivalries in history? In this episode of Memoirs of the Mundane, we uncover the untold story behind one of the most transformative technologies of all time.

Before modern computers, before even the first punch card machines, one man dared to imagine a world where machines could think. In this episode of Memoirs of the Mundane, we dive into the astonishing story of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace—the forgotten visionaries who sketched out the blueprint for the digital age… in the 1800s. Why did their mechanical computer never come to life? What if it had? And how did their ideas resurface over a century later to shape the technology we can’t live without today? Join us as we uncover the almost-lost origins of modern computing.

In this episode of Memoirs of the Mundane, we travel back to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution—a time when steam engines roared to life, factories rose from the ground, and the world was forever changed. But behind the marvel of machines was a story of innovation, hardship, and unintended consequences.